Lawson admits she took cocaine but denies being an addict

Updated / Dec. 4, 2013 21:59

TV chef Nigella Lawson has admitted in court to using cocaine and spoke of the "intimate terrorism" she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband Charles Saatchi.

The celebrity cook revealed she took the class A drug with her late husband John Diamond when he found out he had terminal cancer, and on another occasion in July 2010 during her troubled marriage to Mr Saatchi.

But the 53-year-old, who also admitted to smoking cannabis, said the idea that she is a "drug addict or habitual user of cocaine is absolutely ridiculous".

Ms Lawson was giving evidence in the fraud trial of two of former personal assistants, who are accused of spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on credit cards loaned to them by the food writer and Mr Saatchi.

Standing in the witness box at Isleworth Crown Court in west London, Ms Lawson admitted taking cocaine on six occasions with her late husband Mr Diamond.

"It gave him some escape," she told the court.

"There was another time I took cocaine. In July 2010 I was having a very, very difficult time.

"I felt subjected to intimate terrorism by Mr Saatchi."

Ms Lawson said she felt "isolated and in fear of...just unhappy".

"A friend of mine offered me some cocaine. I took it," she said.

Ms Lawson told the court the experience "completely spooked" her.

"The idea that I am a drug addict or habitual user of cocaine is absolutely ridiculous," she added.

Ms Lawson said Mr Saatchi "told everyone" he was taking cocaine out of her nose after he was photographed holding her neck at Scott's restaurant in central London.

She claimed the incident was actually sparked when she commented on a person walking by with a baby.

"I said 'I'm so looking forward to having grandchildren'," Ms Lawson told the court.

"He grabbed me by the throat and said 'I'm the only person you should be concerned with'."

Ms Lawson said she began taking cannabis in the last year of her marriage to the multi-millionaire art gallery owner.

"I have to be honest, I have smoked the odd joint," she said. "I found it made an intolerable situation tolerable. It's a false friend and not a good idea.

"I found the answer was in changing the situation and trying to create a tolerable situation for me and my family.

"I have to say since freeing myself from a brilliant but brutal man, I'm now totally cannabis, cocaine, and drug free."

Ms Lawson claimed she did not know how to roll a cannabis joint but had instead asked others in her house to do so.

"This was not behaviour I'm proud of," she said.

Ms Lawson said she was not a "habitual drug user and drug addict, or a snorter of cocaine for ten years".

Asked by Anthony Metzer QC, representing one of the defendants, where these drug claims may have come from, Ms Lawson replied: "I believe some of it came from your clients and Mr Saatchi. Not the three most reliable witnesses."

Ms Lawson said she believed Mr Saatchi intended to damage her interests, before adding: "And look how it's played out."

She admitted she had hidden any drug use from Mr Saatchi.

"I could have weathered a conversation about it. I just wouldn't have wanted to," Ms Lawson said.

Mr Metzer asked Ms Lawson if Mr Saatchi had a temper.

"Yes, he did have a temper and I don't think that anyone can be in any doubt he had a temper," she replied.

Italian sisters Francesca Grillo and her sister Elisabetta, sometimes referred to as Lisa, are accused of committing fraud by abusing their positions by using a company credit card for personal gain.

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